Iowa got LUCKY!
- Thread starter mstp1992
- Start date
Depends on who you played. This ain't your Daddy's Spartans, not even close. We were up 2 with a minute to play against a team who scored 37 total points very recently.
IMO there isn't a "better" version of the starting 5. It's Garza and 4 guys who when not left unguarded from 3 are going to struggle to score and in Connor's case, he can't make wide open shots with any consistency. This unit simply isn't athletic enough to play even slightly better than crappy defense and is almost 100% reliant on Garza and 3-point shooting to score in the half court. This was on display (again) last night but Fran, out of necessity more than practicality, was forced to play Joe T., Perkins, and Ulis. The result was not a shocker to those of us who have been advocating for these guys to get on the floor---Iowa with some quickness on the floor can play some D, get some dribble penetration and even some buckets in transition.
It's up to Fran how this season goes moving forward. He can remain in the bunker and keep playing the starters mega minutes and roll the dice that Garza and Joe W. can score enough to offset bad defense. The alternative is to embrace the quality depth on the bench and start mixing them into the lineup. With the exception of Garza, the starting 5 is easy to defend and highly prone to prolonged scoring droughts. Opponents run Jbo, Joe W. and CJ off their spots and deny them clean looks and there is nobody capable of doing anything off the bounce. It's like the Iowa run game--teams know what is coming and prepare for the screen action Fran runs thus Jbo is in a straight jacket the entire game and Joe W. has to rush or take 1-2 steps back to get a look.
It's up to Fran how this season goes moving forward. He can remain in the bunker and keep playing the starters mega minutes and roll the dice that Garza and Joe W. can score enough to offset bad defense. The alternative is to embrace the quality depth on the bench and start mixing them into the lineup. With the exception of Garza, the starting 5 is easy to defend and highly prone to prolonged scoring droughts. Opponents run Jbo, Joe W. and CJ off their spots and deny them clean looks and there is nobody capable of doing anything off the bounce. It's like the Iowa run game--teams know what is coming and prepare for the screen action Fran runs thus Jbo is in a straight jacket the entire game and Joe W. has to rush or take 1-2 steps back to get a look.
2 out of those 3 issues have been a problem for a long time. FT's has become the most recent one. MSU shot pretty well but having almost no one in their grill most of the game has become the norm for Iowa. Love how they survived another mediocre game but I like what I see from the younger guys and Jack continues to put stronger games together. It can be painful but winning ugly is still winning.
This sums it up quite well.
If the Spartans had hit just one or two more shots down the stretch it’s a different game. That’s why I say this was a lucky win. Iowa played a bad game. MSU played well (for them, this season), while in their 3rd road game in 6 days. Iowa still got the win.
As has been said, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
But, I’d certainly like both!
They may not be, but there could be something said for the long layoff they went thru.
They gave OSU all they wanted before our game and just looking at the eye test, it appears they may be gaining a little steam. The hole is pretty deep, but I would argue they will be a tough out from here on out.
That doesn't however excuse our terrible perimeter D once again. Way too many damn open looks from 3 as usual. That better get fixed and as others have pointed out, our bench guys who actually defend need to have alot more minutes
Disagree.
EVERY team hits a flat spot in this league at some point. If you can still get some wins while you’re going through one, that’s the sign of a good team.
No team wins every game comfortably by double digits. Especially in this league.
Keep you chin up, guy.
I agree on the open looks and offensive rebounds. Joe T, Tony, Keegan and Patrick played improved defense in the second half, but the offensive rebounds were very frustrating. MSU has always been one of the better rebounding teams, but I would have liked to see some man to man defense in the second half to see what this unit could do. MSU has no one who could expose Garza.
Unlike the OP, I do not think Iowa got lucky to win though. Iowa made the shots late, which they did not do against Illinois, Indiana or Minnesota. This happens frequently. The team that executes better in the final two minutes wins the game.
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Close out D on MSU 3’s was horrific all game long, especially the starters, rebounding was bad, no box outs led to 26 second chance points, and free throw shooting was abysmal with the misses and lost second shot free throws on the front end of 1 and 1’s. Thank God for the second team of Nunge, Toussiant, Patrick, Perkins, and Ulis to pull the team back into the game. Not sure what is going on with JBo, Connor, and Weizy but they disappeared for the most part. CJF we all know is hurt and I hate to question someone’s tolerance for pain but not sure what is going on with him and we shouldn’t know so other teams don’t attack where he is hurt. Starters gotta start stepping up and make plays on both ends of the court. That’s what a B1G championship caliber team does with a guy like Luka in the middle.
Well, I still come back to the basic basketball fact that if you play 2-3 zone, 1-2-2 or whatever the combo is for most of the game, you will struggle to rebound consistently! You are guarding space, not a player and you have to HUSTLE to find someone to box out. Combine that fact with good athletes on the other side and it's a potential recipe for disaster. It seemed for most of the game we didn't get the 50/50 balls, Ulis' end of first half sequence was key.
I have a friend who is a MSU fan. He was lamenting the number of second chance points Iowa had and MSU was playing man to man defense. I think we all tend to focus in what our favorite team did wrong instead of right in general. That being said, I was very frustrated with MSU getting 20 offensive boards, which helped keep them in the game.
I’m beginning to move in this direction. Earlier this year, I was consistently saying CMac plays for a reason, but he hasn’t played well since he got hurt at Rutgers. Keegan brings a better defensive element, and he’s a better scorer. I also wouldn’t complain about even putting PMac ahead of him. He is a better scoring threat and plays much better defense. Joe T should start. He can rack up similar if not better assist number than JorBo and he plays much better defense. I love JorBo, he’s been one of my favorite hawks to ever watch, but I think even he cares more about winning than his minutes. Last night also proved to me that Perkins and Ulis are going to be a dynamic duo in the future. Perkins is already so good defensively, he just needs to improve his jumper and he’ll be a very good player for us. Ulis, as I have already stated, I love.
We shot 5/17 from 3 they tied their season high with 12 made threes and we gave up 20 offensive rebounds. We missed 12 ft’s and 3 where 1 and 1. Any other questions?
Well, in fairness, Connor shot 4 and missed all of them I believe, which shouldn't surprise anyone. He shouldn't be shooting, wide open or not.
Disagree,.. The starters minus Garza sorta stunk it up,.. The bench however, played a great game and hopefully made Fran more aware of options that he has seemed reluctant to pursue, particularly against opponents that rely heavily on their athleticism... (Pay attention Fran and look at your upcoming schedule).
Judging from those stats alone, you'd assume we lost by 20...
Ken Pom has Iowas offense ranked #1.
We do need better defenders in but you're so over the top its hilarious.
Imagine someone saying that a coach would have to roll the dice on trusting that the #1 offense in the country can score enough points.
Its pretty funny.
This is true,.. You have to work hard enough, to become good enough, to get close enough, for a little bit of luck to seal the deal.
Losing Luka Garza will change the way they play, but we will have plenty of capable players. I'd be a little surprised if we're in the Top Ten discussion, but it's possible.
You've got Keegan, PMac, Ulis and Perkins getting their feet wet right now. The question is who among them elevates their game to be reliable scorers. You have to replace a double-double machine, tough to do. Nunge will do well and get more minutes, so all good there I believe, and Josh O will have to provide some breather minutes for Jack.
The cupboard is not bare, that's for sure. We'll be competitive, to what degree hard to say. It will be interesting if nothing else.
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